I'll try to address all the points brought up on my post:

1. CanadianReader... I would say you are quite irresponsible if you can dig up a few instances and try to label an entire country because of these instances. Why don't we just call America "The murderous nation" because people kill each other so much? Why don't we call all Christians "bloodthirsty assassins" because one deranged idiot named Pat Robertson calls for the assassination of Hugo Chavez? Get my drift?

2. Culture... It's my opinion that america is not allowed to have a culture. We can't reject anything. There may be trends, popular things, etc... but those are solely based on money. Why is the NFL popular? because it's shown on primetime TV. Why is it shown on primetime TV? because it makes money. I guess it all depends on your definition of culture. Ireland and Germany have cultures of beer drinking, soccer, etc... The thing is, they aren't REQUIRED to adhere to a united states person who is pissed because they are trying to live in Ireland/Germany and can't speak the language. They are allowed to reject us, they can pester the hell out of us at the airport. Meanwhile, the united states can't do that. That's one thing that I dislike about the constitution.. it allows for other countries to come into america, and become so prominent that they CHANGE america FROM america to where THEY came from. Basically, America fucked itself IMO. Nowadays, you have anyone who is proud of their country called a bigot, racist, etc. by people like FT... like you are not allowed to be proud of your country. Canada waves their flag a ton, which was previously mentioned.. are they a fascist state too? To sum it up, America can't control their culture, everywhere else can. If you can't control your culture, it's not culture, it's just a clusterfuck.

I think you're completely wrong, Decka. Immigrants in this country do NOT act exactly as they would in their home country. They become Americanized, some more quickly than others. That's how it has always been.

but people can also come to america and demand (and be given) everything they got in their homeland. I'd like to see someone do that in France!

Like i said, it depends on your definition of culture, because the word is very vague.

define "treated badly"? she was treated no different than anyone else would have or should have. would you be less outraged if it had been some middle-eastern student with the same name as someone on a watch list?

Come on - you are being retarded, if you read that account and didn't think she was treated badly - then there's something wrong with your brain mate.

There's no way a woman from Iceland should have been treated like that. A fine for overstaying her visa 12 years ago, at worst they put on the next plane back.

We are not talking about middle eastern students on watch lists - stick to the story at hand - I know you seem to either make stuff up, or let your mind wander - stick to the words in that account.

Thats what we hope people think, and we hated the "Best Country To Live In" status too.
How could an arctic tundra 6 months of the year be the best country to live in? Yeah sure if the only people voting were eskimo's.

I think you're completely wrong, Decka. Immigrants in this country do NOT act exactly as they would in their home country. They become Americanized, some more quickly than others. That's how it has always been.
You are absolutely right!
I'm not sure what kind of dope Decka is smoking.

of course none of this would have happened if she hadn't been driving like a crackhead.First of all, how do you know she was driving like a crackhead? I was ticketed once for running a stop sign that I didn't run -- there's not a lot you can do about it, just pay the fine and move on. Second, even if she was in violation how does this in any way justify her being strip-searched and detained for eleven hours? You must be smoking Decka's dope.

First of all, how do you know she was driving like a crackhead?

He doesn't - he just likes to add his own story to the story.

Drew-a question :)

You have lived in the US for quite sometime now,

do you feel your becoming Americanised ?

Drew-a question :)

You have lived in the US for quite sometime now,

do you feel your becoming Americanised ?

Yes - absolutely - if you live in any country long enough you identify with it. I will always be British, but the US is my home - my wife is American, my son is American. I even use the US spellings and way of saying words, I no longer think driving a stick shift is better than an automatic.

I've lived in a few places & the US is by far the best place on earth to live. Many places are nice - to visit, but for day to day life you cannot beat living in the US.

Many places are nice - to visit, but for day to day life you cannot beat living in the US.
Ain't that the truth!

Sounds good.

Pity my old man changed his mind in 68 about going :(

I cordially disagree.

For services and oppertunity America would be hard to beat.

Quality of life is what you make it-no matter where you live.

I cordially disagree.

Well you would - you live in NZ - which is a very nice country of course.

My parents have lived in Macau and the US. They say the US has better opportunity economically and freedom wise.

I think being "americanized" isn't culture.. you basically just become more lazy, expect quicker fixes faster, glorify objects and yourself more, and become a person who won't do anything unless he/she has something to gain. That's what I would call "americanization"... fortunately, we have all these freedoms too, which I feel I should mention;)

I think being "americanized" isn't culture.. you basically just become more lazy, expect quicker fixes faster, glorify objects and yourself more, and become a person who won't do anything unless he/she has something to gain. That's what I would call "americanization"... fortunately, we have all these freedoms too, which I feel I should mention;)

This is an incredibly shortsighted view. All rich nations expect quicker fixes faster, glorify objects and themselves more. None of that is necessarily a bad thing.

The US is the most giving nation on earth - US citizens & the US governemt give more to charity than any other nation - so to say that things only get done if there is something to gain is a cynical view of an economic process (capitalism) that creates wealth and have made the US what it is.

The US is an extremely successful nation - in a short period of time. That didn't happen by accident, it happened because of people.

None of these things have anything to do much with culture. America is rich with culture, just as most countries are. Wherever you find people you have culture.

You paint a negative bland picture and your view is totally incorrect and devoid of basis.

yes, Americans are very giving people but the USA still has the highest rate of poverty in the industrialized world, although it is the wealthiest nation.

www.vexen.co.uk/countries/charity.html (http://www.vexen.co.uk/countries/charity.html)

I think being "americanized" isn't culture.. you basically just become more lazy, expect quicker fixes faster, glorify objects and yourself more, and become a person who won't do anything unless he/she has something to gain. That's what I would call "americanization"... fortunately, we have all these freedoms too, which I feel I should mention;)
That is idiotic in the extreme. It says you live in Ohio but you talk like a Frenchman. :@@:

yes, Americans are very giving people but the USA still has the highest rate of poverty in the industrialized world

This is simply not true - the UK, Spain, Turkey, Russia - to name just a few have a higher % of the population living under the poverty line than the US. Check it out - the stats are freely available via Google.

Also - when it comes to charity - this is always shown as % of GDP - that's baloney. Money is money & the US gives a lot more than anybody else - it doesn't matter what the % of GDP is.

Its true-money is indeed-money, and Im sure the US does contribute more than anyone else, however, by your theory it gives less per head of population, than other nations.

I think being "americanized" isn't culture.. you basically just become more lazy, expect quicker fixes faster, glorify objects and yourself more, and become a person who won't do anything unless he/she has something to gain. That's what I would call "americanization"... fortunately, we have all these freedoms too, which I feel I should mention;)


Dude that's insane! I don't know about other immigrants, but I can speak for some asians. Even in my second generations of asians I would say most are still becoming doctors, engineers, or successful businesspeople! Even the cab drivers and 7-11 owners you find in NYC, their kids are becoming doctors, engineers, or businesspeople. Not many are sitting back and taking handouts.

You don't get that by being lazy and "expecting" things, but by hard work! I think you need to change your view of "Americanization". Most immigrants believe that "Americanization" is that you can "work hard" and get results - not "being lazy".

Its true-money is indeed-money, and Im sure the US does contribute more than anyone else, however, by your theory it gives less per head of population, than other nations.


I guess we would have to see some statistics. Most people in the US believe in the "teach 'em how to fish" philosophy rather than just "giving them the fish".

Its true-money is indeed-money, and Im sure the US does contribute more than anyone else, however, by your theory it gives less per head of population, than other nations.

No - It gives less as a % of GDP, not neccesarily by head of population. Also bear in mind that many of the governments in the western world are welfare states - the government collects a lot more % taxes per person.

When it comes to private individual (non governmental) giving - the US population - even when measured as a % of GDP gives double the % GDP of the next most generous country (the UK).

For sure the US could give more, but like I said - money is money at the end of the day and the US gives a lot more money than any other country & it's citizens are the most generous on earth by any measure. All that tends to happen is people dog the US for not giving enough while forgetting that it gives out the most.

Dude that's insane! I don't know about other immigrants, but I can speak for some asians. Even in my second generations of asians I would say most are still becoming doctors, engineers, or successful businesspeople! Even the cab drivers and 7-11 owners you find in NYC, their kids are becoming doctors, engineers, or businesspeople. Not many are sitting back and taking handouts.

You don't get that by being lazy and "expecting" things, but by hard work! I think you need to change your view of "Americanization". Most immigrants believe that "Americanization" is that you can "work hard" and get results - not "being lazy".

Good post.

that's a different matter.


No its 23-year-old Ottawa woman Cheryl Kuehn



of course none of this would have happened if she hadn't been driving like a crackhead.

From this you see a person using crack.
Mrs. Kuehn, who was driving to Florida to visit her in-laws with her husband, Scott Kuehn, 24, brother-in-law Michael Kuehn and friend Dan-Que Pham, said her ordeal began when she was attempting to leave the highway to stop for dinner at about 5:20 p.m. Saturday.

Taking the wrong exit, Mrs. Kuehn said she made a U-turn before pulling the black Volvo station wagon into the restaurant parking lot.

That's when she heard a voice over a loudspeaker, ordering her not to park the car. Seeing the flashing emergency lights and realizing it was a police officer, she pulled over.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16638810/

This seems to back up your point Drew.

Americans also have the most 'disposable income'.

Well I did and the USA was number 16. Only Ireland and Italy were under the USA. Check out wikidpedia.This is simply not true - the UK, Spain, Turkey, Russia - to name just a few have a higher % of the population living under the poverty line than the US. Check it out - the stats are freely available via Google.

Also - when it comes to charity - this is always shown as % of GDP - that's baloney. Money is money & the US gives a lot more than anybody else - it doesn't matter what the % of GDP is.

Well I did and the USA was number 16. Only Ireland and Italy were under the USA. Check out wikidpedia.

Wikipedia cleary agrees with what I wrote & disagrees with your statement that "the USA still has the highest rate of poverty in the industrialized world"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_percentage_of_population_livi ng_in_poverty

12.6% of the population in the US under the poverty line

vs

19.8% in spain, 17% in the UK, 21.6% Israel, 17.8% Russia...and so on.

=> Your statement was 100% incorrect

No its 23-year-old Ottawa woman Cheryl Kuehn
they weren't fired for detaining her, they were fired for not checking back with INS when conformation of her immigration status was over due.





From this you see a person using crack.
you left out the 55 in a 35 zone and blowing thru the stop sign:slap:

Jesus, reading this thread most of you have gone to the extreme and lost your fucking minds in responding.

No wonder countries can't run with harmony. Jesus.

And yes I'm Canadian. Good god. Just keep bashing each other.

:)

Jesus, reading this thread most of you have gone to the extreme and lost your fucking minds in responding.

No wonder countries can't run with harmony. Jesus.

And yes I'm Canadian. Good god. Just keep bashing each other.
You no-good stinkin' Canadaians!

;)

BTW... welcome back your duckiness!

:worship:

You no-good stinkin' Canadaians!

;)

BTW... welcome back your duckiness!

:worship:
Heeeeeeeeeeeey baby? How's it hanging ya old fart ya. Careful, I got my GPs for Christmas I shall find ya.

You too Irish. :D

Ok, I think that I was talking about charity and how much the US government gives not poverty. At least that was what the 16th place thing was. And I also got that from wikipedia. I agree with you that Americans as individuals are among the most generous when it comes to giving charity.Our government itself is not as generous as many other industrialized nations though. I also have a link that says the US has the highest childhood poverty rate among industrialized countries. www.wsws.org/articles/2001/mar2001/pov-m14.shtml-17k(if (http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/mar2001/pov-m14.shtml-17k(if) this link does not work try a search for (US has the highest childhood poverty rate among indutrialized nations). Also the link where I got the USA still hs the highest rate of poverty in the industrialized world was from here- www.human-w-r.com/mag.php?id=10 (http://www.human-w-r.com/mag.php?id=10) Wikipedia cleary agrees with what I wrote & disagrees with your statement that "the USA still has the highest rate of poverty in the industrialized world"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_percentage_of_population_livi ng_in_poverty

12.6% of the population in the US under the poverty line

vs

19.8% in spain, 17% in the UK, 21.6% Israel, 17.8% Russia...and so on.

=> Your statement was 100% incorrect

you left out the 55 in a 35 zone and blowing thru the stop sign:slap:
Sounds more like Thursday afternoon rush hour than a malicious terrorist plot. :rolleyes:

Jesus-would you get dragged in for hours on end and treated like shit for being 20 over the limit in America ?

No, but I might get tazed. :rolleyes:

Jesus-would you get dragged in for hours on end and treated like shit for being 20 over the limit in America ?
they can hold you without charge for 24.

No, but I might get tazed. :rolleyes:
i can see you getting yourself tased for someone else's parking ticket:taser:

they can hold you without charge for 24.
For breaking a speed limit-Cmon.

For breaking a speed limit-Cmon.
for anything, or nothing...but it's rarely done.

they weren't fired for detaining her, they were fired for not checking back with INS when conformation of her immigration status was over due.






you left out the 55 in a 35 zone and blowing thru the stop sign:slap:

Wrong one got fired for detaining her after INS cleared her at 11:00PM and kept her another 6 hrs. Plus they had no business checking her status, and the supervisors where punished for knowing all about it and not doing anything.